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enCopyright 2019 - RFE/RL, Inc.60Sat, 25 May 2019 15:45:49 +0000Pangea CMS – RFE/RLAnother Kazakh Opposition Activist Gets Draft Notice Ahead Of Presidential ElectionKazakh opposition activist Alimzhan Izbasarov says authorities have sent him a conscription notification in a move that he says is punishment for his political activities.https://www.rferl.org/a/another-kazakh-opposition-activist-gets-draft-notice-ahead-of-presidential-election/29959404.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/another-kazakh-opposition-activist-gets-draft-notice-ahead-of-presidential-election/29959404.htmlThu, 23 May 2019 15:04:30 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanPicksKazakh Protesters Demand Debt Forgiveness Ahead Of Snap Presidential PollDozens of Kazakh homeowners, mainly women, have demanded debt forgiveness and other state financial support for people with problematic mortgages, low-income families, and single mothers at a demonstration ahead of a snap presidential election next month.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-protesters-demand-debt-forgiveness-ahead-of-snap-presidential-poll/29954480.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-protesters-demand-debt-forgiveness-ahead-of-snap-presidential-poll/29954480.htmlTue, 21 May 2019 10:28:19 +0000KazakhstanNewsKazakhstanPicksKazakh Activists Say They're Being Conscripted As Punishment For Political ActivitiesKazakh authorities have moved to conscript two opposition activists for mandatory military service, a move the activists say is punishment for their political protests.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-activists-say-they-re-being-conscripted-as-punishment-for-political-activities/29949782.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-activists-say-they-re-being-conscripted-as-punishment-for-political-activities/29949782.htmlSat, 18 May 2019 15:22:19 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanPicksProminent Kazakh Sinologist Arrested On High Treason ChargesKazakhstan’s authorities have arrested a leading sinologist in the country, Konstantin Syroyezhkin, on charges of high treason.https://www.rferl.org/a/prominent-kazakh-sinologist-arrested-on-high-treason-charges/29947052.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/prominent-kazakh-sinologist-arrested-on-high-treason-charges/29947052.htmlFri, 17 May 2019 09:06:14 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanPicksKazakh Mothers Protest At Forum, Bused Away To Meet MayorDozens of mothers campaigning for better social care in Kazakhstan protested outside a major conference in the capital, Nur-Sultan. They demanded a meeting with interim President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev and former President Nursultan Nazarbaev who were due to speak at the Astana Economic Forum on May 16. Instead, authorities put the women on a bus and took them to city hall where they later met with Nur-Sultan Mayor Bakhyt Sultanov and other officials. Mothers' groups have been demanding better housing and financial support after five children from one family died earlier this year in a house fire while both parents were away working overnight shifts.https://www.rferl.org/a/29944440.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/29944440.htmlThu, 16 May 2019 12:03:00 +0000KazakhstanKazakhstanVideo ArchivePicksVideosArrests In Almaty Amid Kazakh CrackdownActivists were arrested in Almaty, Kazakhstan, amid ongoing protests against presidential elections planned for June 9. Activists say the elections will not be fair. The latest protests came alongside events marking Victory Day.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-protests-may9/29930663.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-protests-may9/29930663.htmlThu, 09 May 2019 12:02:00 +0000KazakhstanKazakhstanVideo ArchivePicksVideosKazakh Protesters Detained As Websites Go DarkPolice in Kazakhstan have detained several anti-government protesters who staged demonstrations during ceremonies to mark the 74th anniversary of the Allied victory against Nazi Germany in World War II.https://www.rferl.org/a/rfe-rl-s-kazakh-website-other-sites-not-accessible-in-kazakhstan/29930391.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/rfe-rl-s-kazakh-website-other-sites-not-accessible-in-kazakhstan/29930391.htmlThu, 09 May 2019 09:10:33 +0000KazakhstanNewsKazakhstanPicksTwo Kazakh Activists Jailed For Democracy Banner Released A Day EarlyTwo Kazakh activists arrested last month and sentenced to 15 days in jail after they unfurled a banner during a marathon in Almaty calling for a fair election have been released.https://www.rferl.org/a/two-kazakh-activists-jailed-for-democracy-banner-released-a-day-early/29922386.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/two-kazakh-activists-jailed-for-democracy-banner-released-a-day-early/29922386.htmlSun, 05 May 2019 19:19:57 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanKazakh Courts Start Issuing Jail Sentences Against May Day ProtestersA court in Kazakhstan’s capital, Nur-Sultan, has begun to issue jail sentences against detained participants in a May Day protest against the country’s longtime leader, Nursultan Nazarbaev, and his family.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-courts-start-issuing-jail-sentences-against-may-day-protesters/29916164.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-courts-start-issuing-jail-sentences-against-may-day-protesters/29916164.htmlThu, 02 May 2019 09:38:09 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanPicksKazakh Protesters Call For Presidential Election BoycottMore than 100 protesters have gathered in the center of two Kazakh cities, calling for the release of all political prisoners and a boycott of the upcoming presidential election.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-protesters-call-for-presidential-election-boycott/29914078.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-protesters-call-for-presidential-election-boycott/29914078.htmlWed, 01 May 2019 07:59:45 +0000KazakhstanNewsKazakhstanFrom Our BureausPicksKazakh Activist Jailed For People-Power Banner Citing ConstitutionA Kazakh activist has been sentenced to five days in jail after hanging a big banner citing the constitution from a pedestrian bridge in Almaty, the tightly controlled country's largest city, amid tension over a snap election that will be held in June.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-activist-jailed-for-people-power-banner-citing-constitution/29910764.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-activist-jailed-for-people-power-banner-citing-constitution/29910764.htmlMon, 29 Apr 2019 14:14:33 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanFrom Our BureausPicksEight Nominees Submit Applications To Run For Kazakh PresidentNUR-SULTAN -- Eight nominees, including interim President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, who is expected to win, have submitted applications to run for president of Kazakhstan in the June snap election, the Central Election Commission said on April 29.
A ninth presidential hopeful, nominated by the Central Asian nation's Union of Constructors, Talghat Erghaliev, withdrew his candidacy on April 29. The deadline for applications ended on April 28.
Nominated by the ruling Nur Otan party, Toqaev is not expected to be challenged seriously as other candidates are either relatively unknown political figures nominated by pro-government parties and groups, or do not have enough time to campaign for the early poll.
The only registered party in the country that positions itself as opposition to the government, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (ZhSDP) announced its decision to boycott the election, on April 26.
'Puppet' Candidates
The decision was made at a party congress to protest what party members say is the participation of "puppet" candidates proposed by pro-government parties to help secure an election victory for Toqaev of the ruling Nur Otan party.
A ZhSDP statement declares that fielding a candidate in the election would damage the party's reputation because it could be seen as a political group that is controlled or being used by the government.
Toqaev, a former diplomat who had been the speaker of Kazakhstan's Senate, became interim president on March 20 -- one day after the country's long-time leader Nursultan Nazarbaev announced his resignation from the presidency.
Toqaev on April 9 announced that a snap presidential election would be held on June 9 -- moving forward the date of the next scheduled presidential election by nearly one year.
Critics say the snap election is aimed at shortening the political transition and decrease the chances of instability following the resignation of Nazarbaev, who had ruled Kazakhstan in an autocratic manner since 1989 when it was still a republic of the former Soviet Union.
The announcement of the election just two months before the actual vote has given Toqaev's potential opponents little time to mount a campaign, greatly reducing their chances of becoming known by voters in a country where the political opposition has been marginalized and politics is still dominated by Nazarbaev.
The registration of the candidates is scheduled to continue through May 11.
https://www.rferl.org/a/eight-nominees-submit-applications-to-run-for-kazakh-president/29910399.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/eight-nominees-submit-applications-to-run-for-kazakh-president/29910399.htmlMon, 29 Apr 2019 10:51:37 +0000KazakhstanNewsKazakhstanPicksKazakhstan's Only Registered Opposition Party Boycotts Snap Presidential ElectionKazakhstan's Nationwide Social Democratic Party (ZhSDP), the only registered party in the country that positions itself as opposition to the government, has decided to boycott an early presidential election scheduled for June 9.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-s-only-registered-opposition-party-boycotts-snap-presidential-election/29905073.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-s-only-registered-opposition-party-boycotts-snap-presidential-election/29905073.htmlFri, 26 Apr 2019 08:22:16 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanPicksKazakh Activists Jailed For Protest Banner At MarathonKazakh activists received jail terms and fines for posting a banner calling for fair presidential elections on the sidelines of the Almaty marathon. Amnesty International is calling the detainees prisoners of conscience.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-marathon-protest/29903514.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-marathon-protest/29903514.htmlThu, 25 Apr 2019 13:40:00 +0000KazakhstanWatchdogKazakhstanVideo ArchivePicksVideosEx-Kyrgyz Lawmaker Gets 10 Years In Prison At Kazakh Court Hearing Interrupted By BrawlA court in Kazakhstan has sentenced a former lawmaker from neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Damirbek Asylbek-Uulu, to 10 years in prison on smuggling charges at a hearing that was interrupted by a fight between defendants.​https://www.rferl.org/a/ex-kyrgyz-lawmaker-gets-10-years-in-prison-at-kazakh-court-hearing-halted-by-brawl/29901122.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/ex-kyrgyz-lawmaker-gets-10-years-in-prison-at-kazakh-court-hearing-halted-by-brawl/29901122.htmlWed, 24 Apr 2019 12:47:15 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanKyrgyzstanPicksTroops Enter Kazakh Prison, Sparking Concerns About Treatment Of InmatesRelatives of inmates at a prison in Kazakhstan say soldiers with service dogs entered the facility, while concerned activists and family members were denied entry.https://www.rferl.org/a/troops-enter-kazakh-prison-treatment-inmates/29900582.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/troops-enter-kazakh-prison-treatment-inmates/29900582.htmlWed, 24 Apr 2019 09:02:58 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanPicksKazakh Ruling Party Nominates Toqaev For PresidentKazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan party has nominated interim President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev for the presidency.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-ruling-party-poised-to-announce-presidential-election-candidate-at-congress/29897909.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-ruling-party-poised-to-announce-presidential-election-candidate-at-congress/29897909.htmlTue, 23 Apr 2019 02:30:03 +0000KazakhstanNewsKazakhstanPicksKazakh Village Hopes New Nuclear Plant Will Energize EconomyThe struggling Kazakh village of Ulken hopes it will be chosen as the site of a new nuclear plant.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-village-hopes-for-nuclear-plant/29889098.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-village-hopes-for-nuclear-plant/29889098.htmlThu, 18 Apr 2019 08:48:00 +0000KazakhstanKazakhstanVideo ArchivePicksVideosKazakh Prosecutors Seek 13-Year Prison Sentence For Former Kyrgyz LawmakerKazakh prosecutors have asked a court in Almaty to convict former Kyrgyz lawmaker Damirbek Asylbek-Uulu of smuggling and sentence him to 13 years in prison.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-prosecutors-ayslbek-uulu-13-year-prison-kyrgyz-lawmaker/29858709.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-prosecutors-ayslbek-uulu-13-year-prison-kyrgyz-lawmaker/29858709.htmlWed, 03 Apr 2019 10:26:16 +0000KazakhstanNewsWatchdogKazakhstanKyrgyzstanPicksKazakh Court Upholds Fine For RFE/RL CorrespondentA regional court in western Kazakhstan has upheld the decision by a lower court to fine an RFE/RL correspondent, Saniya Toiken.https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-court-upholds-fine-toiken-rfe-rl-correspondent/29858377.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-court-upholds-fine-toiken-rfe-rl-correspondent/29858377.htmlWed, 03 Apr 2019 07:15:46 +0000KazakhstanNewsKazakhstanPicks